MOSCOW, Idaho—Off to a scorching hot 8-0 start in Western Athletic Conference play, the Idaho Vandals women’s basketball team will begin the second half of the conference season on Thursday. Idaho opens the final stretch to the conference tournament at New Mexico State.

Earlier this season, Idaho improved to 22-9 all-time against the Aggies. Idaho scored 79 points back on January 9, to defeat NMSU by 28 points. Ali Fordeput on a show for the fans at the Cowan Spectrum. She recorded a season-high 16 points against the Aggies in the first go-round of the season. Forde finished three blocks shy of a triple-double, setting a new career-high with a Spectrum record seven blocks, in just 23 minutes of action. She earned her third double-double of her career, finishing with 10 rebounds.

“I expect to see a lot of three-point shots coming from New Mexico State,” head coach Jon Newlee said. “They have been on a big roll and they are shooting the ball extremely well. They are so athletic on the perimeter, I expect them to come out and play hard.”

New Mexico State (7-14, 4-4) picked up its first road victory last Saturday at Utah Valley. Sophomore Sasha Weber finished the day with a career-high 22 points, while freshman Brianna Freeman also had a career-high 16 points in the win. NM State also saw junior Danesia Williamson with her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 assists. Sophomore Abby Scott also helped out with 15 points.

Game-time is set for 5 p.m. PT. Tom Purvis will be live from Las Cruces with the pregame show, starting at 4:45 on Vandal Xtra.